Chapter 466 - 462: You Won’t Object, Will You?

Cecilia Sterling watched Mr. Summers’s silly expression and shook her head with a smile.

Just then, the host announced, "Now, we’re raising the difficulty. You can buzz in to answer as soon as the prompt appears. The person who says the most correct idioms for each prompt will earn one point."

The moment this rule was announced, Julian Summers perked up as if he’d been shot full of adrenaline. "A speed round? In that case, I won’t go easy on you guys anymore."

The next prompt appeared on the large screen.

One ( _ ) Three ( _ )!

Julian Summers was the quickest to react, blurting out, "One wave, three breaks!"

The prompt was surprisingly difficult at first glance. Combined with the tense atmosphere of the competition, the other contestants were momentarily stumped. Julian Summers smirked, looking smugly at the ladies to his right.

But then, from his left, Cecilia Sterling’s calm, unhurried voice drifted over. "One day, three meals. One day like three autumns. One deed, three considerations. One word, three meanings..."

Cecilia Sterling rattled off seven or eight idioms that fit the prompt in one go, leaving Julian Summers completely dumbfounded.

Only when Cecilia Sterling stopped did he ask, his eyes wide with anticipation, "D-Do you have any more?"

Cecilia Sterling looked at him and smiled faintly. "To one question, three ’I don’t know’s."

Julian Summers: "..."

The game was ridiculously easy for Cecilia Sterling. She utterly crushed the other contestants in the next few, more complex rounds, making Julian Summers break out in a nervous sweat.

Without a doubt, Cecilia Sterling won the game.

"Miss Sterling, you’re amazing! I was doing alright at the beginning, but once the speed round started, I got nervous and my mind went blank," Heather Keaton said, walking over to congratulate Cecilia.

Cecilia Sterling politely greeted the other contestants. The other ladies seemed to have enjoyed themselves, but Julian Summers was the only one who was genuinely crestfallen about losing the game.

Back at his seat, he still couldn’t let it go and asked Secretary Grant, "My performance just now was okay, right?"

Grant gave an awkward yet polite smile and nodded. "It was great."

’Great at spouting whatever nonsense came to mind!’

On stage, the host asked Cecilia, "Miss Cecilia Sterling, what is your relationship to the Ms. Sterling who just won the watermelon-eating contest?"

"We’re mother and daughter. She’s my mother."

"Oh? Like mother, like daughter, indeed. You are both so beautiful and exceptional."

In the end, the prize money Cecilia won was also donated to the foundation in her mother’s company’s name.

The games continued for several more rounds, and the funds raised through the games alone exceeded one thousand Dollars. The Sterling mother and daughter duo participated in them all, enjoying themselves immensely and feeling very happy.

At around eight o’clock, the charity dinner officially began. Waitstaff in neat lines started serving the food.

The dishes were exquisite and high-end, with each course paired with a different wine. The piano music serving as the background also began to drift melodiously through the air.

Many people began to rise, wine glasses in hand, to socialize. Most of them proactively went to offer a toast to Randall Jennings.

Mr. Young had just stood up when Director Vance, who was beside him, pulled him back down. "Young!"

A single look from him was all it took for Mr. Young to understand. He gave a wry laugh. "Are you in that much of a hurry?"

"It’s a great opportunity. Just take me over for an introduction, and I’ll handle the rest," Director Vance said, lightly adjusting his tie, clearly wanting to make a good impression.

Mr. Young glanced in Randall Jennings’s direction. The man was currently swarmed with people. ’Forget it,’ he thought. ’We can do this later.’

"Alright, let’s go. But if this actually works out for you, you’d better throw a huge order my way!"

Director Vance just smiled, knowing Mr. Young was joking. Mr. Young’s corporation had no dealings in new energy, so their businesses were destined never to intersect.

At Cecilia Sterling’s table, Julian Summers was like an energetic monkey, pestering her to rehash the game they had just played.

Just then, she caught sight of Mr. Young heading her way. Cecilia, who had been looking for a reason to escape, quickly raised a hand to stop Julian Summers. "Mr. Summers, an elder is approaching. Please wait a moment."

"Mr. Young!"

"Cecilia, I came to congratulate you. That game just now was truly spectacular."

As they spoke, the two clinked glasses and drank. Only then did Mr. Young smoothly introduce Director Vance. "Let me introduce you. This is Chairman Vance of Rion Group, an old friend I’ve known for over a decade."

"Hello, Mr. Vance. I saw you during the watermelon-eating contest earlier." Cecilia looked at Director Vance. He was a typically tall and sturdy-looking northern man, with thick eyebrows and large eyes. For a middle-aged man, he was definitely in the top tier of good looks.

"Hello, young lady. I was sitting over there listening to Young praise you nonstop. I thought I absolutely had to meet you."

As he spoke, he took the initiative to address Jasmine Sterling, who was sitting nearby. "And Ms. Sterling, you were incredibly charming on stage just now. I was completely captivated by you."

His words were so blunt that Jasmine Sterling was left completely stunned.

Cecilia’s eyebrows shot up as well, and she instinctively glanced at Mr. Young.

But Director Vance’s tone was sincere. While his words were direct, they weren’t inappropriate; he was simply expressing his admiration for Jasmine Sterling in a straightforward manner.

Mr. Young quickly spoke up. "Director Vance has a typical northern personality—he says what he thinks. He was just praising your mother to me a moment ago, too."

Cecilia wasn’t a fool. Besides, the man wasn’t trying to hide his intentions, so of course, she could tell what was going on.

Jasmine Sterling stood up, both flattered and flustered. "You’re too kind. It was just a game, I wasn’t thinking too much about it."

"But you were distinctly different from everyone else," Director Vance said, pulling a gold-embossed business card from his pocket. "This is my card."

Jasmine Sterling accepted it politely and gave him one of her own in return.

Mr. Young watched from the side, inwardly shocked at how proactive Director Vance was. There was no wasted talk from beginning to end; in just a few sentences, he had already gotten her business card.

Cecilia took the opportunity to pull Mr. Young aside to a corner. "Mr. Young, what is going on here?"

Mr. Young gave a slightly embarrassed laugh. He didn’t hide anything, since he figured Cecilia could see it for herself anyway. "It’s exactly what it looks like. Director Vance finds your mother very charming and wanted to meet her to see if there was a chance to get to know her better."

Then, he looked at Cecilia and asked tentatively, "Cecilia, you wouldn’t be against your mother remarrying, would you...?"

"No, not at all," Cecilia said quickly. "I actually hope she can find her own happiness again. But this Mr. Vance is just so... sudden."

"These things always happen when you least expect them," Mr. Young said, personally vouching for Director Vance. "But Director Vance is a really good man. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been willing to make the introduction."

"Is Mr. Vance divorced, too?" Cecilia asked.

"Not divorced. He’s a widower," Mr. Young slowly explained. "Don’t be fooled by his upright and imposing appearance, thinking he’s some kind of chauvinist. He’s actually a deeply devoted man. His wife passed away more than ten years ago, and he never looked for anyone else. It was only after his son graduated from college that he began to reconsider his own love life, and that was just in the last couple of years."